October 15, 2026 – Rivière-au-Renard, Québec – National Defence / Canadian Coast Guard
The Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) has officially welcomed another modern, Canadian-built Search and Rescue Lifeboat into its fleet, marking the completion of the 20th Bay Class vessel in the fleet built under the Government of Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS). This event marks the final dedication of the Bay Class Search and Rescue Lifeboats, all of which were constructed in Canada by Canadian shipbuilders.
The CCGS Baie de Gaspé is a high-endurance Search and Rescue Lifeboat built by Chantier Naval Forillon, in Gaspé, Québec that strengthens the CCG’s ability to respond quickly to mariners in distress and keep Canadians safe on the water. This vessel was delivered and accepted by the CCG in October 2025. The vessel’s homeport is in Rivière-au-Renard, making it an important asset in enhancing maritime safety along the Gaspé peninsula and supporting CCG operations in the region.
Through the NSS, the Government of Canada is investing in the renewal of the CCG’s fleet and creating skilled jobs in Canada’s shipbuilding industry and marine sector.
Quotes
“When lives are at risk on the water, Canadians count on the Canadian Coast Guard to answer the call. Built by the skilled workers at Chantier Naval Forillon in Gaspé, the CCGS Baie de Gaspé is a testament to Québec’s shipbuilding excellence and Canada’s ability to build world-class vessels here at home. This twentieth and final Bay Class lifeboat represents an important milestone in protecting Canadians, strengthening our maritime capabilities, and supporting the Canadian workers and industries that help keep our country safe.”
The Honourable David J. McGuinty, Minister of National Defence
“The CCGS Baie de Gaspé marks a milestone in our National Shipbuilding Strategy. It is the last of the Bay Class Search and Rescue Lifeboats, all of which were built right here in Canada by Canadian shipbuilders. This is our Strategy at work: investing in a stronger, more sovereign Canada by renewing the Canadian Coast Guard’s fleet, guided by Canadian expertise, while supporting good jobs in our marine sector, and boosting our economy. In this way, we are safeguarding our oceans and keeping Canadians safe.”
The Honourable Joël Lightbound, Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement and Quebec Lieutenant
“Dedicating the Canadian Coast Guard Ship Baie de Gaspé is a proud moment for the Canadian Coast Guard. As the final Bay Class Search and Rescue Lifeboat, it completes a fleet that has transformed our capabilities across the country, and will proudly serve Canadians with reliability, speed, and resilience for decades to come.”
Kevin Brosseau, Commissioner, Canadian Coast Guard
Quick facts
The vessel’s sponsor, Patricia Dorion, Gespeg Mi’kmaq Nation Councillor, had the honour of officially bestowing the CCGS Baie de Gaspé with its name, marking the beginning of its service and enduring legacy. Before breaking the ceremonial bottle on the bow, Patricia Dorion wished “fair winds and good fortune” to all who will sail on the vessel.
In 2018, Chantier Naval Forillon Inc of Gaspé, Québec, and Hike Metal Products Ltd of Wheatley, Ontario, were awarded the construction of four new Bay Class Search and Rescue Lifeboats each, in addition to the existing contract awarded in 2015 to build six Bay Class Search and Rescue Lifeboats each. The total value of the contracts for these 20 vessels was approximately $180 million.
The CCG’s new Search and Rescue Lifeboats are specifically designed, equipped, and crewed to respond to incidents at sea. These vessels are self-righting and can operate up to 120 nautical miles from shore, maintaining a maximum 30-minute state-of-readiness at all times with a typical ability to respond the moment an alert is received.
The CCG’s high-endurance Search and Rescue Lifeboats are referred to as “Bay Class” vessels, as each one is named after a Canadian bay under the Vessel Naming Policy.
The CCG keeps waterways safe for mariners, protects the marine environment, and responds to approximately 6,000 calls for marine assistance each year.
To date, 30 small vessels have been delivered to the CCG under the NSS. This includes 20 Search and Rescue Lifeboats, two Channel Survey and Sounding Vessels, seven Hydrographic Survey Vessels and one Coastal Research Vessel.
Noah Note: An end of an Era. Oft forgotten are the Bay-class vessels, despite being a wonderful show of the capabilities and achievements of our small yards. Often times, when we discuss the NSS we have an inate focus on the larger shipyards, mainly as they dominate the work cycle.
But Canada’s yards, small and medium are also working valiantly to ensure that both the RCN and CCG have the vessels they need to carry out their future mandate. Chantier Naval Forillon, Hike Metal Products, Groupe Ocean, Ontario Shipyards, Industries Océan, Kanter Marine, Ocean Pacific Marine, ABCO Industries, Allied Shipbuilders, Newdock Shipyards, and many other participants have all put in the time and effort to build up their individual capacities to support Canada's Maritime recapitalization.
Its gonna be weird to not see these kinds of announcements for them anymore, always is.